My first task was to rebuild the left-hand keel beam. The rear part had long ago been eaten away by the termites. Towards the middle of the cabin there remained beam but it was extensively water damaged. Only towards the bow did it seem some might be salvaged.
As I explored its construction I found that it was an early form of engineered lumbar. Being 4 strips of 1/2" Ply each 3" wide. These were on edge and capped with 2" strips of 3/8" Ply forming something akin to an I beam. This had then been glued and bolted to the hull, with the bolts holding the metal keel strip on the outside of the hull.
The remaining salvageable wood towards the bow was allowed to dry and then reinforced with hardener. A replacement beam was manufactured to slot in with the remains. Finally this was bolted and epoxied in place and the final sections glued and screwed in place. Along side the beam I fixed some flexible conduit. This had holes added to it to act like a French drain if water ever again was able to enter this area and stop it building up and rotting the timber.
With this done the foam etc was moved to the left exposing the right hand beam. This was in much better shape All that was needed was some time for it to dry and reinforcing with hardener and towards the bow the sides and top were reinforced with external splinting by some additional new ply.
Now onto the rear of the cabin and cross beams etc.
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